Ghana: ECOWAS to hold mid-year summit in Accra

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, will be hosting leaders of the sub-region at a two-day summit in Accra from 10-11 July, according to a statement issued in Accra on Monday.

It said the mid-year Summit of ECOWAS would consider a report on the Community’s main activities and projects over the first half of this year to be presented by the ECOWAS Commission President, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo.

The leaders are also expected to discuss a recommendation for the introduction of biometric identity cards for all ECOWAS citizens and the abolition of residence permit requirements for all citizens within Member States.

It said the current Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, would also engage the attention and concern of the leaders attending this Summit.

Another issue to be discussed is an update on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, where a new president was sworn in last month following successful parliamentary and presidential elections, held with the support of ECOWAS.

In addition to the leaders of the 15 Member States, the Presidents of three nations bordering the ECOWAS sub-region – Mauritania, Cameroon and Chad - the President of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations are also among the invitees.

The 45th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government would be preceded in Accra on 8 July, by a Mediation and Security Meeting of ECOWAS involving the Foreign and Defence Ministers from all the Member States.

The Ministers will discuss a report on the Meeting of Security and Intelligence Chiefs held in Accra earlier in the year and examine updates on the security situations in parts of Nigeria and northern Mali.
-0- PANA MA 7July2014